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Councils Welcome Technical School announcement for Sale and Bairnsdale

Wellington Shire Council and East Gippsland Council have welcomed the Federal Government’s decision to establish one of its 24 new Australian Technical Colleges at Sale and Bairnsdale.

By Wellington Shire Council - 19th July 2005 - Back to News

Minister for Vocational and Technical Education, Gary Hardgrave, announced the location of the first 12 colleges on Friday (July 15), four of which are in Victoria.

Mr Hardgrave said: "Seventy-three proposals for the colleges were received from across the nation. Each of the chosen regions had a strong industry base with an identified skills need as well as a high youth population.

The proposed Gippsland Technical College will be located in Sale and Bairnsdale and is due to be completed in 2006-07.

The new college will strive to deliver high quality technical education and trade skills to young Gippsland men and women and help reduce the region's skills shortage.

Wellington’s Mayor Cr Peter Gault said: "This is wonderful news for the young people in Gippsland and a great boost to educational resources in the area.

Cr Gault said the proposal was put forward by Australian Technical College Gippsland Inc., an industry-led organisation with representatives from business, education, councils and general community.

"This group is chaired by Peter Farquhar and includes local industry leaders such as Peter Dullard, Ross Ingram, Dick Hughes, Marilyn Forbes, Chris Banks and Gary Kennedy. Education, training and community representatives include Don Ripper (ACES), Angela Hutson and John Turnor (East Gippsland Institute of TAFE), Geoff Neeson (Nagle College), Dick Noble (school-based industry training) and Sharon Fowler (Wellington Shire Council).

"It was established a few months ago specifically to develop a proposal in response to the Commonwealth Government’s invitation to establish a technical college in Sale and Bairnsdale.

"A key strength of our proposal is that it will build on the existing infrastructure of secondary colleges and TAFE campuses that we already have in the area."

Cr Gault said the Australian Technical College concept featured school-based apprenticeships for senior secondary college students.

"Year 11 and 12 students will still do their VCE and at the same time start their apprenticeship program. It means they will be going to school a few days a week, spend a few days with employers and will also attend vocational training.

East Gippsland Mayor Cr Jane Rowe welcomed the news saying it would be of great benefit to young people in the region.

"The new college will ensure that young people will have increased access to education opportunities that are relevant to the region's needs and opportunities," she said.

"We are enjoying an expansion of business in our region and with that comes opportunity for our young people.

"It is important that training designed to meet the skill sets required to both support industry and to provide sustainable employment opportunities for young people are provided locally.

"It is also very encouraging to see the direct involvement of the local business community that provide invaluable support for the project."

The Commonwealth Government has allocated $344 million to establish the 24 technical colleges across Australia; the location of the remaining 12 will be announced later this year.

The government is expected to start negotiations with the Australian Technical College Gippsland Inc immediately so that the local college can be up and running by early 2007.

Source: www.gippsland.com

Published by: news@gippsland.com



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